Wind energy device

Abstract

A shroud for vertical axis wind turbines. The shroud contains vanes that direct airflow to the turbine blades to increase efficiency. The vanes in the shroud further provide a means to close entirely the turbine from adverse weather conditions. The vanes are operated utilizing electrical feedback from the rotational speed of the turbine.

1 . A wind turbine housing, the housing comprising:
 A housing structure;   A plurality of vanes arranged circumferentially about the frame of said housing;   The vanes hingedly connected to the housing;   Mechanical means for moving the said vanes relative to the said housing;   
     
     
         2 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 1 , wherein said wind housing is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 1 , wherein the said housing structure comprises an open frame. 
     
     
         4 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of said wind housing is determined by the number of the plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         5 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 1 , wherein the number of said plurality of vanes is greater than 3. 
     
     
         6 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 1 , wherein said wind housing is positioned around the rotational circumference of the turbine blades. 
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 1 , wherein the said mechanical means for moving the said vanes relative to the said housing comprises mechanically hinged linkages, those linkages pivotally connected to the said vanes and to one another, the linkages further mechanically connected to electric motor means for moving said mechanical linkages and thereby rotating said vanes open and closed in relation to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 7 , wherein said mechanically hinged linkages are pivotally connected to the said vanes at a point distal to the hinge portions of the said vanes. 
     
     
         9 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor means for determining the rotational speed of a vertical wind turbine. 
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 9 , wherein said sensor means produces an electrical voltage that increases and decreases relative to the rotational speed of a vertical wind turbine. 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 10 , wherein said electrical voltage produced by said sensor means is electrically transmitted to a means for moving said mechanical linkages. 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 11 , wherein said means for moving said mechanical linkages comprises an electronic control means and an electrical drive unit, said electronic control means being electrically connected to said electrical drive unit, and said electrical drive unit being mechanically linked to said mechanical linkages. 
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 12 , wherein said electrical drive unit is operated in response to the electronic control means, the electronic control means receiving the electrical voltage produced by said sensor means and thence providing electrical power to the electrical drive unit to move said mechanical linkages in response to changes in the rotational speed of a wind turbine. 
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 12  wherein said electrical drive unit is a servo. 
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 12  wherein said electrical control means operates the said electrical drive unit in accordance with a preset range of electrical voltage produced by said sensor means. 
     
     
         16 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 12  wherein said mechanical linkages operate the said vanes in relation to the housing from a full open position to a full closed position. 
     
     
         17 . A wind turbine housing of  claim 15  and a pre-set range of voltages causes the position of the vanes to change in accordance with pre-set values. 
     
     
         18 . The wind turbine housing of  claim 16 , wherein said vanes are fully closed when the rotational speed of the wind turbine exceeds preset parameters.